Mary Lou Heard Memorial Garden Tour 2026 - Save the Date!
May 2nd & 3rd 2026 10:00am to 5:00pm, Rain or Shine
Welcome to the Garden Tour! No ticket is needed—just bring your love of gardens and curiosity for discovery!
This self-guided tour invites you to wander through breathtaking gardens designed by real gardeners. See below for garden locations, photos, and descriptions. You may also find our newspaper print tour guide at our sponsor nurseries, or you can print it out yourself here to plan your route. Each garden is arranged in geographical order, leading you from the northernmost blooms south.
Find the spaces that speak to your soul—if one isn’t quite your style, check out the next! Each garden is unique and promises to inspire. So, grab a fellow plant lover, pack your sense of wonder, and prepare for an unforgettable garden adventure!
View the 2026 Garden Tour!
01. Ali & Darrell Barrett
This very eclectic garden makes use of every nook and cranny. It packs a punch, beautifully proving that creating a garden in a small space can be done!
02. Sonia Savoulian
100-year-old Spanish Revival home with an inviting and colorful palette perfectly suited for our Southern California climate.
03. Phillip W Harris, PhD.
This 13-time grand-prize winner of the Cerritos “City Wide Pride” has been showcased several times on PBS and local cable.
04. Bill & Majella Maas
“Rust Has a Home” is a suburban setting for fruit trees, herbs, and flowers, which are the incidental backdrop for the gardener's many collections.
05. Gregg Deems
Step through arches of pink Eden roses into a layered garden overflowing with hollyhocks, foxgloves, iris, and sweet peas. With fountains, pergolas, and hummingbirds at every turn, this tribute garden is a feast for flower lovers.
06. Ron, Ryan & Martha Heiman
A Certified Wildlife Habitat and an Official Monarch Butterfly Way Station, these gardens include Italian, Drought-Tolerant, Grassy Amphitheater, Tropical, and Fruit Orchard—all in a relaxing place to visit and linger.
07. Alana Fugnetti
This enchanting garden features a formal front yard with a brick patio, beautifully complemented by California native plantings. Editor's Note: This one is a MUST SEE with a one-of-a-kind upper deck that has to be seen to be believed!
08. Tom & Yolanda Bass
The inspiration for this garden was to create a place to feel like a peaceful retreat. Editor's Note: This charming, MUST SEE garden has something for everyone!
09. Chris Hurley
This is garden is anything but boring and is instead filled with succulents that you may have never seen before
10. Linda Gartner
A traditional white picket fence frames the large front yard and supports abundant annuals and perennials.
11. Gary Sosenko & Doug Reaney
Step beyond a modest façade into a one-of-a-kind Egyptian-themed backyard, complete with a pergola “temple,” a 70-foot “Nile,” and waterfalls flowing through papyrus-lined paths. Adventure awaits—no passport required.
12. Roselyn & John Dear
The garden was recently showcased on PBS, and was a winner of the 2019 Roger’s Gardens California Friendly Garden contest!
13. Nena Niessen
The style of the garden at this Tudor Revival house is relaxed with the intent to get you to spend some time out in nature.
14. Nick Gillespie & Johnny B. Hicks
Born from a lifelong love of gardening, this hand-tended oasis blends roses, zinnias, succulents, and hundreds of terra cotta pots into a joyful, ever-changing display. New to the tour and bursting with color, it’s a must-see.
15. Randy & Tracy Simons
A 1929 English Tudor home transformed into a lush, character-filled garden featuring towering staghorn ferns, Tillandsias, Bromeliads, white picket fences, and a pergola retreat. A joyful evolution that’s sure to charm and surprise.
16. Steve Velez
Celebrating its 62nd anniversary with you! You will see many specimens of palm, and unusual plants and flowers from around the world. Featured on the television program “Visiting with Huell Howser”.
17. Kye & Elena Osti
A garden retreat composed of succulents and tropical plants, including colorful bromeliads, 40-something pineapple plants & plumerias.
18. Ken & Theresa Anderson
This cross between Mediterranean and cottage garden styles is designed to welcome birds, bees, butterflies and anything else looking for food, shelter, or just a place to sun themselves.
19. Susan & Dave Datko
Succulents, cactuses, air plants, orchids, bougainvillea, and much more can be found on the sprawling, park-like grounds.
20. Doreen Kushner
This is truly a personal work of art. Every pattern is created with thousands of cuttings individually placed, like the strokes of a brush.
21. Ron & Claudia Bitzer
Bienvenidos! Willkommen! Welcome! to this outdoor paradise with year round edible gardens and a butterfly and hummingbird sanctuary.
22. AJ & Barbara Wilson
Inhale the powerful scent of an abundance of sweet peas that adorn the gardens of this large corner lot.
23. Shannon Silveria-Mohr
Tucked away just a mile from the beach, lies a magical property featuring four gardens bursting with color, flowers, and scents.
24. Jennifer & Steve McInteer
This moon garden - which means white flowers only - has a tendency to cheat with a little purple and pink, but still retains its sense of peace and calm.
25. Vicki Sakioka
A romantic English-inspired retreat filled with David Austin roses, climbing clematis, vintage treasures, and the soothing sound of fountains. With a pergola-framed outdoor living room and cottage charm at every turn, this fan favorite is pure garden magic.
26. Miriam Johnson & Bob Ledbetter
Many healing visits to Mary Lou at the original “Heard’s” site inspired this gardener’s backyard cottage garden.
27. Michelle Bates
The Bates’ backyard is like a little piece of Mother Nature--a place to enjoy all of nature’s splendor and beauty.
28. Gina Fu
Step into Gina’s returning beauty, where jasmine, Eden roses, and the intoxicating perfume of Michelia alba welcome you in. Winding stone paths, blooming roses, fruit trees, and waterfalls create a fragrant, joyful escape for the senses.
29. Dan & Kathie Wickham
The Wickhams bought their newly built home 38 years ago…and the gardening has never stopped!
30. Cathy Rowe
Inspired by the great English cottage gardens, this European-style retreat blends structured hedges and topiary with roses, hydrangeas, and foxgloves. With canyon views and an organic kitchen garden, it’s classic design meets California living.
31. Elaine Larsen
The music of water surrounds all of the greenery - relax at a sunny spot or a shaded while listening to the soothing sounds of the water.
32. Cindie & Bob Reilly
Welcome to Cindie & Bob’s Americana themed cottage style garden which has three separate garden areas for their green thumbs to dig in.
33. Susan Kouba
A Certified Wildlife Habitat blending fern gardens, meadow grasses, clipped boxwoods, and cottage blooms. From manzanita and swaying perennials to strolling paths and butterflies at midday, this Southern Orange County garden invites you to wander.
34. Mary Jane Fletcher
Nestled into Southern Orange County suburbia is a Certified Wildlife Habitat that has been tamed.
